TECH How do I get local channels on my new Roku TV?

packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
I've tried everything, and cannot figure out how to get the local channels on the new Roku TV that he bought yesterday. Btw the picture and sound are incredible and aside from not being able to get local channels it's a great tv.

He bought it at best buy yesterday, 43" for $199, on sale, to replace our 12 plus year old tv in the family room. The picture was starting to get dark on the old tv, and was starting to no longer respond to the remotes. I cannot believe how much the price has dropped on flat screen tv's!
 
S

Slydersan

Veteran Member
Easiest thing is to look on the back of the TV for the "Antenna" connection and hook up a pair of old rabbit ears-type antenna to it. Or an outside antenna cable if you still have one of those antennas up on your roof. Then there should be some type of input setting (through your remote) to change it to "Local" and then scan the airwaves for channels. Once it goes through that process you should have some (or a lot) in there depending on your location.
 
BornFree

BornFree

Came This Far
Hook up an antenna?
Not sure how good it is but I believe that Roku has a "Local Now" app. You may be able to get few things there. Try installing it from the sidebar options.
 
Cacheman

Cacheman

Ultra MAGA!
In the Roku menu search for an app called NewsON and add it, they only carry one of our local stations but it's the most watched for local news and weather. I think it's only local news that's carried though(that's all I watch it for) and not the full day of programming. I've never found a streaming service that does.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Slydersan said:
Easiest thing is to look on the back of the TV for the "Antenna" connection and hook up a pair of old rabbit ears-type antenna to it. Or an outside antenna cable if you still have one of those antennas up on your roof. Then there should be some type of input setting (through your remote) to change it to "Local" and then scan the airwaves for channels. Once it goes through that process you should have some (or a lot) in there depending on your location.
Click to expand...
There’s no local option on this tv, there is on the tv in my studio.
 
auxman

auxman

Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit...
HD-TV antennas usually come with their own remote. I use it to access local OTA channels.

The Roku remote is just for all things Roku...
 
Last edited:
Wildweasel

Wildweasel

F-4 Phantoms Phorever
packyderms_wife said:
Now how about a remote with actual numbers on it???
Click to expand...
packyderms_wife said:
Now how about a remote with actual numbers on it???
Click to expand...
We're at Madame Wildweasel's sister's place and they've gone completely Roku, so I'm doing the no local channels thing.

To get local channels on Roku you have to sign up for a local channels app. Here in Daytona it's Spectrum. Back home for us it would be Comcast. You need to see what's available in your area. Your internet company might have a "Watch TV" app available.

When you go to the Roku home page, scroll down to see that app and click on it. Then the list of available channels will show up on the right side of the screen and you can scroll up/down and click on what you want.

No remote with a keypad needed.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
WFK said:
There is no such thing. Or if someone calls it such, it is merchandizing.
Click to expand...

not a clue. What I have is an antenna hanging upside down from the high roof in our attic that's connected to the tv via a coaxle cable. I also have a pair of electric rabbit ears. I'll look for the local channels app on my device.
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
packyderms_wife said:
not a clue. What I have is an antenna hanging upside down from the high roof in our attic that's connected to the tv via a coaxle cable. I also have a pair of electric rabbit ears. I'll look for the local channels app on my device.
Click to expand...
Look for the apps. Rabbit ears and the old style antennas won't work for most anymore. The channels all went digital. There are digital antennas. I gave mine away because I wasn't anywhere that I could receive any type of signals.
 
Ravekid

Ravekid

Veteran Member
Look for a "Live TV" application (Similar to the Netflix, Paramount+, etc. types boxes). Once you have that, there should be a way to scan for local channels. Make sure the coaxial cable is plugged into the TV. Now this app also throws in all the "free" channels after the local, over the air channels. There are very many of them. I believe there is a way to block and/or pick favorites to make it easier to just keep the local channels you want.
 
W

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
The old "analog" antennas work just fine. My old "Christmas Tree" does. That is of course, if any OTA broadcasts are in range. The high def from the free broadcast channels is excellent.

Please try hooking up to yours in the attic before you go out and buy something.
 
H

Homestyle

Veteran Member
We use Youtube TV. No contract, cancel anytime and much cheaper then the other services. We get all local stations and most all stations that aren't premium like HBO, unless we want to subscribe to them. I think it is $79 per month, DH has a sport stream added. No limit on the amount of devices hooked to it.
 
Hawkgirl_70

Hawkgirl_70

Veteran Member
Homestyle said:
We use Youtube TV. No contract, cancel anytime and much cheaper then the other services. We get all local stations and most all stations that aren't premium like HBO, unless we want to subscribe to them. I think it is $79 per month, DH has a sport stream added. No limit on the amount of devices hooked to it.
Click to expand...
And…. You can also watch everything on your phone and tablet too! I love my YouTube TV. Mine is $74.99.
 
Macgyver

Macgyver

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Dennis Olson said:
When I replaced my failing tv in January, it had one of those tiny little remotes with only six or seven buttons on them. I resolved that issue by going to eBay and getting a full function OEM remote. Works like a charm
Click to expand...
Is that for a Roku?

I have the Roku sick/box on my bedroom TV because even though it was a "smart TV" most the apps would not update and stopped working. Even with Netflix still working it had issues with locking up after starting a show and not responding to the remote. I would have to unplug it to reset it.
But nothing actually wrong with the TV so I'm not changing it.
 
A

aznurse

Veteran Member
Have had Dish network premium , no movie channels. Needed Tennis channel. Experimented with streaming using Roku which we have had for a very long time. Took 5 minutes to set up antenna for local stations. Did a scan and got all local stations plus 30+ more. All good. So, tested streaming, all good, then priced for Tennis channel. Cost for streaming with Tennis channel was only 10.00 less than Dish. Stayed with Dish. If I did not need Tennis channel I would go streaming.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
aznurse said:
Have had Dish network premium , no movie channels. Needed Tennis channel. Experimented with streaming using Roku which we have had for a very long time. Took 5 minutes to set up antenna for local stations. Did a scan and got all local stations plus 30+ more. All good. So, tested streaming, all good, then priced for Tennis channel. Cost for streaming with Tennis channel was only 10.00 less than Dish. Stayed with Dish. If I did not need Tennis channel I would go streaming.
Click to expand...
There’s a free tennis channel on Roku
 
A

aznurse

Veteran Member
Easy to switch to antenna on TV. Switch input to antenna and you are up and running. No need to mess with an app. I like simple. Of course, this works only if you are in an area that gets antenna reception. Then streaming works.
 
Dennis Olson

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
Macgyver said:
Is that for a Roku?

I have the Roku sick/box on my bedroom TV because even though it was a "smart TV" most the apps would not update and stopped working. Even with Netflix still working it had issues with locking up after starting a show and not responding to the remote. I would have to unplug it to reset it.
But nothing actually wrong with the TV so I'm not changing it.
Click to expand...
I’m talking about a remote for a television, not a Roku device. My advice is valid even if the tv has Roku built in. However, not for a separate Roku device.
 
BH

BH

. . . .
Have had outside antenna since cutting the cord. First one cost $32 and lasted many years. Replaced it with one for $63. Use a tv signal amplifier due to local terrain and distance ($15).

Look at a product called Tablo (at tablotv.com and best buy). It is a box that connects between your antenna and home network. Tablo has an app for all devices that allows streaming, pausing and recording of OTA programming. Has on screen guide for your channels. One time purchase for $100 (2 tuner) or $140 (4 tuner) - no monthly fees. For $200 you can get antenna (200 mile range) and 4 tuner Tablo. Best TV deal anywhere.
 
S

Slydersan

Veteran Member
Wildweasel said:
Which the UHF part of an old school TV antenna covers more than adequately.
Click to expand...

Exactly. So called "HD-antennas" are just marketing gimmics. Antennas are simply antennas - metal/wire that receive frequency signals and transfer them to a radio/tv/cell phone etc. The old ones we used in the 70's/80's before cable TV will work just fine, just like "rabbit ears" antennas, and will receive even new "4K signals" just fine.

Your Federal Government mandated that all TV stations would "go digital" a dozen+ or so years back. We had threads about it here on TB2K. The problem is, the old analog stations/signals your TV could still receive and display stations even if they were "fuzzy" or not quite clear. The new, digital signals and TVs don't work like that. They have to fully capture, or have 100% of a signal. So the effective range of TV stations dropped a lot. So if for example, you were 100miles away from Des Moines 20 years ago, you could pick up their TV stations. Now...probably not gonna get them. The new antennas are sold with a "range" on them. But beware, that is another marketing trick. "70 mile range" is calculated over flat terrain, free from obstructions like trees, hills, etc. It's a good guide...but don't bet the farm on that so called range being accurate.

The "good" side of going digital, as most know by now, is that one station could add additional sub-channels to their main signal. That's where say channel 13 now has 13-1, 13-2, 13-3, etc. etc. And those are usually some decent old TV show/movie channels like "GritTV".

Here is the FCCs website for their best guess at stations in range of your TV with varying antennas:

www.fcc.gov

DTV Reception Maps

www.fcc.gov www.fcc.gov
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Slydersan said:
Exactly. So called "HD-antennas" are just marketing gimmics. Antennas are simply antennas - metal/wire that receive frequency signals and transfer them to a radio/tv/cell phone etc. The old ones we used in the 70's/80's before cable TV will work just fine, just like "rabbit ears" antennas, and will receive even new "4K signals" just fine.

Your Federal Government mandated that all TV stations would "go digital" a dozen+ or so years back. We had threads about it here on TB2K. The problem is, the old analog stations/signals your TV could still receive and display stations even if they were "fuzzy" or not quite clear. The new, digital signals and TVs don't work like that. They have to fully capture, or have 100% of a signal. So the effective range of TV stations dropped a lot. So if for example, you were 100miles away from Des Moines 20 years ago, you could pick up their TV stations. Now...probably not gonna get them. The new antennas are sold with a "range" on them. But beware, that is another marketing trick. "70 mile range" is calculated over flat terrain, free from obstructions like trees, hills, etc. It's a good guide...but don't bet the farm on that so called range being accurate.

The "good" side of going digital, as most know by now, is that one station could add additional sub-channels to their main signal. That's where say channel 13 now has 13-1, 13-2, 13-3, etc. etc. And those are usually some decent old TV show/movie channels like "GritTV".

Here is the FCCs website for their best guess at stations in range of your TV with varying antennas:

www.fcc.gov

DTV Reception Maps

www.fcc.gov www.fcc.gov
Click to expand...

Are you in central Iowa? If so do you occasionally pick up Ottumwa or Mason City? We do, but like you said they can be fuzzy.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Slydersan said:
LOL nope I'm in Maryland figuring out how I'm going to get home since my bridge had a little accident this morning.
Click to expand...

Safe travels, for you and everyone who has to travel there today. I'm sure a lot of folks are beyond frazzled at the moment.

Anyway I don't think the new digital tv will be picking up channels outside of our area like the 12+ year old unit did. Unless I can find that "local news" app that was suggested up thread, then that might be a game changer.
 
S

Slydersan

Veteran Member
Like one of my old ham radio mentors used to say "No way to know until you try it and find out." He would try using all kinds of weird and random metal objects as radio antennas.... just because. He once talked from Hawaii to Japan using an old VW Bug car bumper in his back yard leaning up against his house. Why? "Why not" he told me.
 
packyderms_wife

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Slydersan said:
Like one of my old ham radio mentors used to say "No way to know until you try it and find out." He would try using all kinds of weird and random metal objects as radio antennas.... just because. He once talked from Hawaii to Japan using an old VW Bug car bumper in his back yard leaning up against his house. Why? "Why not" he told me.
Click to expand...

Sounds like something my dad would do, he'd run a copper wire from his office out to the clothes line poles and would then start talking to people in South Africa, Japan, Alaska, Greenland, etc.
 
Cacheman

Cacheman

Ultra MAGA!
Dennis Olson said:
I’m talking about a remote for a television, not a Roku device. My advice is valid even if the tv has Roku built in. However, not for a separate Roku device.
Click to expand...
A quick question Dennis, have you ever tried any of the apps for your phone that work as a remote for your TV? I don't have a phone that sends out the signal (is it IR? can't remember) but am getting a new phone in the near future and was just wondering if it has any advantages, our TV remote is on it's last and was just wondering if adding another app is worth it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top